Switching failure delays Metra trains 30-90 minutes

Staff report

A "massive switching failure" is delaying several Metra lines 30-90 minutes, including three originating out of Union Station and one out of Ogilvie Station, a Metra spokeswoman said.

A series of switches near Western Avenue on a rail line that includes tracks for the Milwaukee District North and West Lines, the North Central Service and the Union Pacific West Line failed sometime about 3 p.m., said Meg Reile, a Metra spokeswoman.

Crews fixed the swtiches, but they failed again, delaying some trains more than an hour and stopping others.

We have delays of 30 to 90 minutes for the incident which has affected six rail lines, said Reile.